Chennai: Rock engravings are rare in the Chennai region. Now, alumni of Madras University’s department of ancient history and archaeology have unearthed petroglyphs (images carved on rock surfaces) and stone tools at Nandanam village in Nagalapuram mandal, Andhra Pradesh. The findings provide fresh insights into the lives of people who lived a few thousand years ago in a region north of present-day Chennai.The team discovered the prehistoric rock shelter with petroglyphs and stone tools such as scrapers, bifacial tools and microliths scattered around the area some 85 km from Chennai. Archaeologists say that the rock shelter provides fresh evidence of ancient human activity.Researchers said parts of the rock shelter have been affected by natural weathering, resulting in deterioration of some engravings. “Despite weathering, these engravings demonstrate continued prehistoric activity within the rock shelter. One of the panels depicts a turtle motif, a human figure with outstretched arms, a deer and an animal foot engraved above the principal figures. They might represent deer hunting,” said Shyam Daniel Silvester, an alumnus of the University of Madras‘s ancient history and archaeology department, and director of Agazh Avaiyam, a centre of archaeological excellence.“A jar-shaped image also was observed on the rock surface, which adds to the diversity of the engraved assemblage,” he added.“In addition to wall engravings, the rock floor preserves motifs resembling rainbow-like patterns. These motifs resemble prehistoric petroglyphs and geoglyphic motifs reported from the Konkan region,” Silvester said.“The surviving petroglyphs remain vulnerable to both environmental factors and human interference. There is an urgent need for proper documentation, scientific study and long-term conservation,” said Bharath Jayakumar, co-director of Agazh Avaiyam.“It is an interesting corpus of rock art. However, the chronology is uncertain due to the disturbance of the site. Further research is needed to date the site,” said archaeologist V Selvakumar, a former professor from Tamil University.Only a few sites, including Perumukkal in Villupuram district and Yerpettu in Nilgiris, have recorded petroglyphs in Tamil Nadu.“Petroglyphs are rare in the Chennai region. These rock engravings are associated with ancient pastoral communities,” said art historian K T Gandhirajan.
